Merkley urges Trump to press Xi on political prisoners and transnational repression

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) are leading a group of Democratic lawmakers pressing the Trump administration to raise political prisoners and transnational repression with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of an expected meeting between Xi and President Donald Trump.

The lawmakers sent two letters. One urged the administration to seek the release of people they say are wrongfully detained in China, including American citizen Min Zin. The second called attention to what they describe as Beijing's campaign of intimidating or retaliating against U.S. citizens and Chinese nationals living in the United States, and asked for greater coordination among federal agencies to respond.

Merkley and McGovern are ranking members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which examines human rights issues involving China. Sens. Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine, Adam Schiff, Andy Kim, and Mazie Hirono, along with Reps. James Walkinshaw and Tom Suozzi, also signed the letters, according to Merkley's office.